Cost of refurbishment and sale of properties known as Amy’s House and L’Hôpital, St. Martin

1240/5(1994)

QUESTIONS TO BE ASKED OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE HOUSING COMMITTEE ON TUESDAY, 4th NOVEMBER 2003 BY THE DEPUTY OF ST. MARTIN

Question 1

On 1st July 2003 the States rejected the Committee's proposition (P.68/2003) concerning the sale of Amy's House, St. Martin. Rather than transfer the property to the Health and Social Services Committee, the President stated that the property would be refurbished and again let to someone on the States Rental Waiting list.

1. W o uld the President inform Members when refurbishmentofAmy'sHousebegan?
2. H o w much will the refurbishmentcost?
3. W h entherefurbishmentwillbecompletedandthepropertyre-occupied?

Answer

(a) T h e refurbishment of Amy's House has not begun. The Housing Committee does not intend to refurbish the property. The Assembly will be aware that the Housing Committee has a number of miscellaneous type properties which are in need of either significant repair or are of a type which are not best suited to use as social housing. As part of a holistic approach to rationalise the current stock and to help address the lack of funds to remedy the problems which affect many of the properties that are to be retained, proposals will be brought to this Assembly as soon as possible to sell a number of properties. It would be nonsensical  not  to  include  Amy's  House  in  this  list.  Rather  than  deal  with  matters  piecemeal,  the Assembly will have an opportunity to consider the sale of Housing Committee property as a policy, debate the same and then makes its decision accordingly. In view of this commitment to bring this policy initiative to the Assembly for debate, I see no point in re-running the arguments over Amy's House at this stage.

Question 2

On 20th May 2003, in answer to a question as to why the property known as L'Hôpital, St. Catherine was unoccupied, the Vice-President stated that, subject to the outcome of discussions with the Planning Officers and the receipt of permission, a start date had been programmed for July.

1. W o uld the President inform membersof the progressofthework?
2. O n completionof the work, will the propertybe let to people ontheStatesRentalWaiting List?
3. If t heanswer is in thenegative, will the propertybe offered to otherCommittees?

Answer

1. W  ork has not startedon L'Hôpital. TheDepartmentis waiting for final approval for thescheme from the EnvironmentandPublic Services Committee.
2. N o .
3. L ' Hôpital is one ofthe properties that the Housing Committee believes should be sold. It will, therefore, be included inthelistof properties to be submitted to this Assemblyfor debate.